Black History Month can be a painful reminder of the struggles many faced in their fight for freedom and civil rights. Many forgotten lives were sacrificed so others could live a better life.

For those in the Upper Dublin community, those forgotten lives were finally given the memorial they never had.

The Upper Dublin Quaker Meetinghouse, located at 1506 Fort Washington Ave., Maple Glen, held a memorial service to commemorate the lives of long-forgotten fugitive slaves buried in the graveyard outside. Upper Dublin community members of various faiths and races attended the service, organized by Upper Dublin Meetinghouse member Avis Wanda McClinton, to reflect on the ugly stain on American history and learn from it to make sure the mistakes of the past don’t repeat themselves in the future.

Advertisement

Before the Civil War, the meetinghouse was a stop along the Underground Railroad, which secretly transported escaped slaves from the South to the North. Harboring a known escaped slave was illegal under the Fugitive Slave Act. While Pennsylvania was a free state, many did not want to be locked up for committing a federal crime by harboring fugitives. It was the bravery of Thomas and Hannah Atkinson, both ardent abolitionists who owned the property where the meetinghouse stands with an adjacent farm, that led them to stand up for what they thought was right and take in those slaves on the run.

In accordance with Quaker tradition, the hour-long service was informal, in that those who wished to say something stood and said what was on their minds and sat down.

Upper Dublin Meetinghouse member David Bartholomew gave a brief welcome and introductions before turning the floor over to McClinton.

McClinton said the service provided an opportunity to have closure for those slaves who died without being remembered.

“ buried in dark or night so I could say no,” she said. “They could never say no. I say no all the time.”

She said she was overwhelmed with the number of people who came in support of the service and the meetinghouse was in the application process for it to be equipped with a Pennsylvania Historical Marker so others could know the role it played as a stop along the Underground Railroad.

“Nobody’s born a slave,” she said. “Somebody took them and bought them.”

During the service, Sandra McFarland, the great-great-great-great-granddaughter of the Atkinsons, kneeled before McClinton and asked for forgiveness for slavery on behalf of “all the white people who enslaved you.”

“Yes, yes, I do forgive you for that,” McClinton replied.

“And I ask God’s forgiveness and I ask all of you to join me in asking God for forgiveness for that,” McFarland then said.

During the service, many spoke about how overwhelming and powerful it was to see everyone stand and address the sensitive topic so openly. Many said they were inspired by the service and remembered the power of individuals working together and standing up against an unjust system, such as was the case with the Atkinsons.

“This is very touching,” said Ed Curtis, Daniel W. Dowling American Legion Post commander and an Ambler Borough Council member. “What’s really touching to me is, over 65 years ago, my great-great-grandmom — and my aunt and my cousin can attest — owned a farm right across the street here. Little did I know that’d I be here giving testimony today knowing that something like this could be so great.”

He said he is a representative of Rose Valley Cemetery and there are a number of veterans buried there.

“We have so much history in this little area,” he said. “It’s unbelievable. My heart is touched today.”

After the service, everyone trudged through the fresh snow to visit the part of the cemetery where it is believed the slaves were buried, though how many and their names is unknown.

McClinton thanked everyone for coming and said because the snow forced many people who wanted to come to stay home, a second service has been scheduled for Feb. 16 from 2 to 3 p.m at the meetinghouse.